The third annual Kayla O’Mara Memorial Road Race broadened its horizons last Saturday. A 10K race was added to the day’s events, which included a 5K run, a 5K walk and a 1 mile fun run.
‘I hope the 10K brought more people to the race,? said Kelsey Krych, a 19-year-old Goodrich High School graduate. ‘I think more people are interested in a longer race.?
More than 100 people were interested. One hundred and thirteen runners raced around Goodrich at 8 a.m. on Aug. 2, completing the memorial race’s first 10K run.
Justin Zanotti from Chesterfield crossed the finish line first in 31:31.
Three hundred and twenty-seven runners raced in the 5K run, with Adam Sprangel finishing first in 15:26.
Despite 5-minute miles leading the way, the mood of the race was not competitive.
‘I’m not racing hard this year,? said Ben Richards, 21-year-old Goodrich High School graduate and second place finisher in last year’s 5K race. ‘But it’s going to be fun and I’m going to eat a lot after.?
Danielle Bila, 20-year-old Goodrich High School graduate, said she wanted to match up with the best runners.
‘I told people I would run with them, but I’m really going to race it,? Bila said before the race began. She crossed the line in the first wave of finishers.
Despite the greater diversity in events, Linda O’Mara, a race coordinator, said this year’s crowd was smaller than last year’s.
‘Our numbers are lower, but that’s kind of natural,? O’Mara said. ‘Hopefully we advertise better next year.?